Johnson, Thomas, 1732–1819, American political leader, b. Calvert co., Md. A lawyer, he served (1762–73) in the Maryland colonial assembly, where he became prominent in the fight against the Stamp Act (1765). He was a member (1774–77) of the Continental Congress, and he nominated (1775) George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental army. Johnson served as governor of Maryland (1777–79) and helped bring about Maryland's adoption of the Constitution. He served briefly (1791–93) as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
See biography by E. S. Delaplane (1927).
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